Lift and load dolly

Abstract

A dolly for loading equipment on a dolly, transporting, and lifting or lowering equipment onto a receiving surface preferably includes a base frame and a slideable load bracket connected to the base frame. A power system may be used for extending and retracting the load bracket between an equipment-transfer mode, an equipment transport mode, and a weight-shift mode. The load bracket alone or the load bracket and the base frame are pivotable in relation to at least part of the front end of the base frame. Mobility-enabling devices and an operational member may also be connected to the base frame. The present invention also includes methods for lifting and lowering equipment using the dolly.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A dolly for transporting, loading, and lifting equipment from a starting surface onto a receiving surface, said dolly comprising: 
 (a) a base frame having a front end and a rear end opposite said front end;    (b) at least one mobility-enabling device attached to said base frame;    (c) a load bracket slidably connected to said base frame;    (d) a power system for slideably extending and retracting said load bracket in relation to said base frame; and    (e) at least said load bracket being pivotable in relation to at least part of said front end.    
     
     
         2 . The dolly of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one mobility-enabling device is at least one wheel.  
     
     
         3 . The dolly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one mobility-enabling device at said front end is flattenable, said front end being lowered when said at least one mobility-enabling device at said front end is flattened.  
     
     
         4 . The dolly of  claim 1 , said base frame further comprising at least one foot connected to said base frame for contacting said receiving surface.  
     
     
         5 . The dolly of  claim 4 , wherein said dolly is pivotable on said at least one foot.  
     
     
         6 . The dolly of  claim 1 , wherein said load bracket being pivotable in relation to said base frame.  
     
     
         7 . The dolly of  claim 1 , wherein said base frame further comprises an operational member.  
     
     
         8 . The dolly of  claim 1 , wherein said power system is comprised from elements selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) at least one electric motor;    (b) at least one pneumatic system;    (c) at least one hand crank;    (d) at least one winch;    (e) at least one lever;    (f) at least one piston;    (g) at least one spring;    (h) at least one pulley;    (i) at least one worm screw;    () at least one cable; and    (k) at least one mechanical linkage.    
     
     
         9 . A method for lifting equipment from a starting surface onto a receiving surface, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a dolly having a base frame and a slideable load bracket, said base frame having a front end and a rear end, said load bracket for supporting said equipment thereon;    (b) configuring said dolly in an equipment transport mode with said load bracket substantially coextensive with said base frame;    (c) positioning said dolly in said equipment transport mode in a receiving surface contact position wherein at least part of the rear end is in contact with the starting surface, and at least part of the front end is in contact with the receiving surface;    (d) configuring said dolly in a weight-shift mode with said load bracket extended beyond said base frame, said dolly remaining in said receiving surface contact position;    (e) pivoting at least said load bracket in relation to said front end; and    (f) transferring at least said equipment onto said receiving surface.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said step of providing a dolly further comprising the step of providing a dolly having at least one mobility-enabling device attached thereto.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of transporting said dolly using said at least one mobility-enabling device.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , said step of providing a dolly having at least one mobility-enabling device further comprising the step of providing a dolly having at least one flattenable mobility-enabling device attached to said front end.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of flattening said mobility-enabling device to lower said front end for loading equipment onto said load bracket.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said step of positioning said dolly in said equipment transport mode in a receiving surface contact position further comprises the step of tilting said dolly to raise said front end.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said step of pivoting at least said load bracket further comprises the step of pivoting said load bracket in relation to said base frame and said front end.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said step of transferring at least said equipment further comprises the step of transferring only said equipment onto said receiving surface.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said step of pivoting at least said load bracket further comprises the step of pivoting both said load bracket and said base frame in relation to said front end.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said step of transferring at least said equipment further comprises the step of transferring only said equipment onto said receiving surface.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said step of transferring at least said equipment further comprises the step of transferring said equipment and said dolly onto said receiving surface.  
     
     
         20 . A method for lowering equipment from a starting surface onto a receiving surface, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a dolly having a base frame and a slideable load bracket, said base frame having a front end and a rear end; said load bracket for supporting equipment thereon;    (b) positioning said dolly so that said rear end is substantially adjacent on edge between starting surface and said receiving surface and so that said front end is remote from said receiving surface;    (c) configuring said dolly in a weight-shift mode with said load bracket extended beyond said base frame;    (d) pulling said rear end and pivoting said dolly in relation to said front end until said dolly is in a receiving surface contact position with at least part of said rear end in contact with said receiving surface, and at least part of said front end in contact with said starting surface; said dolly remaining in said weight-shift mode;    (e) retracting said load bracket until said dolly is in an equipment transport mode with said load bracket substantially coextensive with said base frame, said dolly remaining in said receiving surface contact position; and    (f) transferring said dolly onto said receiving surface.    
     
     
         21 . A dolly for lifting and lowering equipment from a starting surface to a receiving surface, said dolly comprising: 
 (a) base frame having a front end and a rear end;    (b) a load bracket slideably connected to said base frame;    (c) a power system for slideably extending and retracting said load bracket between at least two modes selected from the group consisting of: 
 (i) an equipment-transfer mode with said load bracket extended beyond said base frame;  
 (ii) an equipment transport mode with said load bracket substantially coextensive with said base frame; and  
 (iii) a weight-shift mode with said load bracket extended beyond said base frame; and  
   (d) at least said load bracket being pivotable in relation to at least part of said front end.    
     
     
         22 . The dolly of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one mobility-enabling device connected to said base frame.  
     
     
         23 . The dolly of  claim 22 , wherein at least one of said mobility-enabling devices is connected to said front end, at least said load bracket being pivotable on said mobility-enabling device connected to said front end.  
     
     
         24 . The dolly of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one foot connected to said front end, at least said load bracket being pivotable on said foot.  
     
     
         25 . The dolly of  claim 21 , further comprising an operational member connected to said base frame.